The US Naval command issued details of the Covid vaccine mandate that has some attorneys saying that it appears to be pure vindictiveness. The Navy told commanders not to promote, reenlist, or execute orders, with the exception of separation orders for unvaccinated personnel prior to the deadline of Nov 28 or Dec 28 for Reservists. Sailors can be reassigned, even if they are seeking an exemption. But it’s the rest of the order that has attorneys calling the order vindictive. USN punishment for vaccine refusals
US Naval Command punishment for the unvaxxed
Officers and enlisted members serving in leadership roles who have not gotten a shot were informed in writing they had five days to initiate a vaccination series or request an exemption. If they do neither, they’ll be relieved and have what’s known as detachment for cause, or “administrative removal of a member from a current duty for unsatisfactory performance of duty or misconduct.”
Any Navy personnel separated because of vaccine refusal will get a general discharge under honorable conditions or a higher level of discharge. Depending on the level, they could lose some veterans’ benefits.
Officers may be subject to “recoupment of unearned special or incentive pays” in select cases. The COVID authority “may seek recoupment of applicable bonuses, special and incentive pay, and the cost of training and education for service members refusing the vaccine” from sailors, the order also says.
Unvaccinated personnel could also face a court-martial.
This is nothing more than pure vindictiveness. There’s no legitimate reason to threaten our brave service members with court-martial or involuntary separation. And now the Navy is threatening to hurt them financially?!? You might expect a country like China or North Korea to force its people to choose between faith and country. But this is America. What the Navy is doing goes against the very fabric of our nation.
Mike Berry, general counsel for the First Liberty Institute
Military leadership made it perfectly clear that religious exemptions would be subjected to intense scrutiny of whether the person is adhering to the tenets of their faith or a political viewpoint. (Deseret News) The US Naval Command will punish the personnel who disobey their edict, and at a time when our volunteer Armed Forces are low anyway, this could pose a problem.
Cross-Posted With Conservative Firing Line
USN punishment for vaccine refusals
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